Belgium

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Monday it had approved maritime transport support schemes in five EU countries - Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Poland and Sweden.

“The schemes encourage ship registration in Europe and contribute to the global competitiveness of the sector without unduly distorting competition,” the Commission said in a statement.

BOGOTA (Colombia), Dec 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UNESCO on Friday withdrew an annual carnival in the Belgian city of Aalst from its heritage list over persistent charges of anti-Semitism.

In an unprecedented move, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage said it was withdrawing the carnival “over recurring repetition of racist and anti-Semitic representations” at the event.

BRUSSELS, Dec 13 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Gabonese airlines have been removed from an European Union blacklist that meant that flights from the country could not access the European airspace.

The EU Commission said it had “withdrawn them (Gabon) from the list following improvements in aviation safety in that country.”

The decision announced earlier this week makes it possible for airlines as the National Regional Transport (NRT), Solenta Aviation Gabon, Tropical Air Gabon and Afrijet Business Service to commence flights to Europe.

BRUSSELS, Dec 113 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Europe warned Washington to mind its own business after US lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill that would sanction contractors working on a Russian pipeline to the continent.

Brussels “opposes the imposition of sanctions against any EU companies conducting legitimate business,” EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said.

BRUSSELS (AP) — EU leaders broke a deadlock early Friday and claimed a deal over a key climate target by committing to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, sidestepping the objections of Poland, one of the blocs biggest economies.

Two days after the EU’s new commission chief unveiled her “European Green Deal” to fight climate change, heads of state and government cried victory during a summit in Brussels, calling it a major step forward in the continent’s ambition to remain a global climate leader.

11 Dec 2019; MEMO: The European Union (EU) is channelling European taxpayers’ money to Israeli entities accused of international law violations, according to a new briefing by human rights campaigners.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union is ready to start negotiations on its future relationship with Britain as soon as Britain leaves the bloc, a senior EU official said on Wednesday, ahead of a meeting of EU leaders on Brexit on Friday.

Britain will hold parliamentary elections on Thursday after years of negotiations on the terms of its withdrawal from the EU did not produce a result that would get sufficient support in the British parliament.

The British election results are likely to be known early on Friday.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. disruption of the global economic order reaches a major milestone on Tuesday as the World Trade Organization (WTO) loses its ability to intervene in trade wars, threatening the future of the Geneva-based body.

Two years after starting to block appointments, the United States will finally paralyze the WTO’s Appellate Body, which acts as the supreme court for international trade, as two of three members exit and leave it unable to issue rulings.

06 Dec 2019; MEMO: The European Union will grant €297 million ($329 million) to support Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan and Lebanon, the European Commission announced on Thursday, Anadolu reports.

The newly adopted assistance package aims at improving healthcare and living conditions of the Syrian refugees and host communities, as well as creating new job opportunities and social protection.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- The head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU), Zhang Ming, denounced on Wednesday U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's disinformation campaign against China and Chinese tech giant Huawei, calling it a "witch hunt".

"Despite the witch hunt and media hype, not a single country or individual has come up with solid evidence to prove that Huawei poses a security threat," Zhang wrote in a letter to the editor of POLITICO, which ran an op-ed by Pompeo on Monday.